Furnace



Nov. 2 1926.

G. P. WHITE FURNAC E Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2 1926.

5 Sheets Sheet 5 FURNACE G. P. WHITE Filed March 1, 1926 Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,018

G. P. WHITE FURNACE 4 Filed March 1. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 4 xga --mi N 5 w m ii a} N l 1 9i M U m I! a H i. w M

Nov. 2 1926.

G. P. WHITE FURNACE 5 sheets sheet 5 Filed March 1, 1926 Ill/Ill Patented Nov. 2, 1926.-

UNITED STATES [1. 05.01 PATENT OFFICE. Y

c osen-r.

WHITE, 01 GLEN ELL, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOB TO DE KELLER BLATCEI'OBD COMPANY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OI ILLINOIS.

IUBNAOB.

- Application fled much My invention relates to a furnace, for heating plates, particularly; or billets or other articles, of the type comprising mechanism whereby the articles are move through the heating chamber of the furnace by a series of step by 'step movements by means of a carrier arranged in channels In the hearth of the furnace which carrier is raised to pick up the articles from the hearth, 'moved forwardly, lowered to deposit the articles in advanced positions on the hearth, and is then moved back through the channels in the hearth to its original position ready for another cycle of movements. A furnace of this character provided with overhead mechanism for raising and supporting the carrier is shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 603,478, filed November 27, 1922.

The principal object'of thepresentinvention is to provide certain improvements in a furnace of this general type, and more especially in a furnace as shown in my application referred to, the improvements re lating particularly to the construction of the longitudinal carrier and of the mechanism by means of which the carrier is raised and lowered and supported in its position above the furnace hearth, whereby the life of the carrier and of this mechanism is prolonged, the power required to operate the moving parts of the conveying apparatus is lessened and such operation made more reliable.

Other objects of the invention will be referred to in connection with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the furnace.

Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation (the front stock rack being shown in section) on line 2--2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the doors and their operating mechanisms being omitted from this figure.

Fig. 5 is' a view, in elevation, of one of the transverse members for supporting the carrier with its vertical guides and part of the mechanism for suspending it from the top of the furnace.

1, 1828. Serial R0. 81,461.

Fig. 6 is a "sectional plan taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 with the scale enlarged.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the furnace on a scale larger than that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, fragmentary sectional View of the carrier. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal view, with parts in section, of the carrier.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view onlin 10-1() of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a View. in elevation, with parts in section, of the front end of the carrier.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the hearth of the furnace, 11 the side walls and 12 the arch. The. heating chamber 13 of the furnace is heated in any suitable way, for example, by means of gas or oil flames introduced through the tuyeres 14 which are.

preferably arranged in staggered relation at opposite sides of the furnace. Outlet ducts for the products of combustion are indicated at 15. There is an opening intothe furnace at each end closed by a door 16 sliding in guides 17 and adapted to be raised and lowered by three chains 18, 19 and 20, attached to clips 21 on the upper edge-of the door. Chain 18 passes over sheaves 22 and 23 and has attached to the lower end thereof a weight 24. Chain 19 passes over sheaves 25, 26 and is united by a link 27 with chain which passes over sheaves 28 and 29. A-chain 30 is connected with link 27 and carries a weight 31 at its lower end; Sheave 23 has connected therewith a lever 32 connected by link 33 with the piston rod 34 of an air cylinder 35 by ered, wei hts 24, 31 counterbalancing the Weight 0 the door. It will be understood that this description applies to the door and I means of which the door is raised and lowits operating mechanism at eachend of the furnace.

Stock-racks 36, 37 are arranged at each end .of the furnace approximately at the level of the hearth. These racks may be of- -identical construction and consist preferably of horizontally arranged channel bars 38 secured at their inner ends to the faceplate 39 and at their outer ends to a cross piece 40 supported by uprights 41.

The hearth 10 of the furnace is formed with longitudinal panels 42 and the face plates 39 of the furnace with corresponding tion, in each case, this grooves 43. These channels and grooves are designed to receive the longitudinal members 44 of a carrier or transfer frame by means of which the articles heated in the furnace are given step by step movements from the forward stock rack 36 through the furnace and out upon the rear stock rack 37. The longitudinal members 44 consist preferably of metal pipes which project for some distance out of the furnace at each end. At the forward end of the furnace the pipes 44 are connected by elbows 45 with short vertical pipe sections 46- provided with valves 46, the lower ends of which pipe sections are joined by a header 47. This header is made up of a middle section 48 of maximum diameter in the form of a 'l' for admission of cooling fluid through hose connection 49 and on each side of the middle section 48 two sections 48 48 of progressively reduced diameter, together with Ts 48, 48 and elbows 48 for connection with the vertical pipe sections 46. The extremities of the pipes 44 at the rear end of the furnace are provided with elbow fittings 50 to which are attached short vertical pipe sections 51 closed by caps 52. The elbow fittings are formed with taps 53 to receive valved elbow-shaped pipes 54 to which are attached flexible tubes 55 for out flow of cooling water at points above the upper inside surfaces of the pipes. These arrangements permit of the circulation of water through the pipes in order to keep the same cool.

The carrier thus formed is raised, lowered and supported in the raised position on three transverse members (the number might be increased for a longer furnace) which are designated 56, 57 and 58, the transverse members 56 and 58 being arranged outside of the furnace at opposite ends thereof and the transverse member 57 in a channel 59 in the hearth 10 of the furnace with its ends projecting out through openings 60 in the side walls 11 (Fig. 3). These transverse members are suspended from the top of the furnace and are simultaneously raised and lowered by mechanism which will be described. The transverse members and their suspended and guiding devices are preferably of the same construcconstruction being shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. 61 is a pipe on which are arranged a series of rollers 62 to support the longitudinal members 44 of the carrier. At each end of pipe 61 is across 68 and to these crosses are secured upstanding pipes 64 provided with T fittings 65 to which are secured short horizontal pipe sections 66 provided with flexible hoses 67. To the lower taps of the crosses 63 are secured plugs 68 transversely perforatedfor a reinforcing member 69 between which andthe pipe 61 are arrangedl one or more struts 70. The reinforcing member 69 is preferably tubular and its ends are threaded for the nuts 71, the pipe 61 reinforcing member 69 and struts 70 forming together a trussed structure. Water may be circulated through the pipe 61 and uprigllit pipes 64 in order to keep the structure coo perienced due to the overheating and bending of the members, as previously constructed, for supporting the carrier bars. The trussed water cooled construction herein provided overcomes these difficulties. -If the transverse members become overheated they are likely to bend and sag under the weight of the carrier and its load so as to interfere with or prevent the movements of the carrier. Instead of being water cooled the transverse members may be made of heat resisting metal. The carrier pipes might also be made of such metal.

The ends of pipes 61 are closed by caps 72 and on the short pipe sections 73 of 61 outwardly of the crosses 63 there are arranged rollers 74. These rollers operate be tween pairs of upright guide members 75. Preferably rollers 76 are mounted on the upper ends of the guides-in position to be engaged by the upright pipes 64, Spaers 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 are arranged between the rollers and the crosses and struts so as to keep the rollers in proper position. Secured to the upper taps of the Ts 65 are pipe sections 86 to the caps 87 of which are secured links 88 threaded at their upper ends for an adjustable connection with loops 89 to which the links are attached by nuts 90, 90. The loops are pivotally attached to rock arms on the top of the furnace. There are three of these rock arms 91, 92, 93 one for each of the trans verse members 56, 57, 58, the arms being secured to rock shafts 94, 95, 96 turning in bearings 97 on longitudinal beams 98 forming part of the steel framework of the furnace. On the shaft 94 is fixed a lever 99 to which is pivoted the piston rod 100 of a steam or air power cylinder 101, the cylinder being pivoted at its lower end, as indicated at 102 so that it can adjust itself to the movements of the piston rod. Shafts 95 and 96 are provided with arms 103 carrying counterweights 104. The shafts 94, 95, 96 are provided with levers 105, 106, 107 which are pivoted to links 108 so that the operation of power cylinder 101 brings about a rocking movement of all three rock shafts simultaneously.

The longitudinal movements of the carrier are effected as follows: 109 is a power cylinder, the, piston rod 110 of which is pivoted at 111 to a lever 112 having a pin and slot connection 113 at its lower end in a clevis 114. The upper end of the lever 12 is formed with a slot 115 to receive the pipe Considerable difliculty has been ex- .lll)

in 116 of a clevis 117 secured to a cross eam 118 clamped to the vertical pipes 46 of the carrier,

The longitudinal members 44 of the carrier are preferably provided with means whereby plates, for example, will rest on the carrier at only a few widely spaced points so that the su port of the plates by the carrier will inter ere as little as possible with the uniform heatin of the lower surfaces of the plates. eferring particularly to Fi 8, 9 and 10, rings 119 are arranged on t e pipe 44, and are held in place by spacin sleeves 120 the edge of which fit into ra bets 121 in the rings. Longer sleeves 122 are arranged at the places where the carrier must roll on the rollers 56, 57, 58. All parts are loose to allow for expansion and contraction and to give air spaces tending to keep the parts cool. The.

sleeves help, in fact, to keep the carrier pipes from being overheated. 123 desi ates in Fig. 8 a plate resting on the rings 119. The rings are preferably arranged on adjacent ipes in staggered relation, as shown in Fig.

The operation of the furnace as above described, s as follows: A plate, billet or other article is placed upon the forward stock rack 36 and fluid pressure is admitted to cylinder 109 so as to move the carrier in a forward direction, the pipes 44 moving easily over the rollers 62 of the transverse members 56, 57, 58; Fluid pressure is then admitted to the upper end of power cylinder 101 so as to raise the carrier from the channels 42 of the furnace hearth. The carrier picks up the plate or other article from the stock rack'and also any article that may be on the hearth of the furnace. The upward movement of the carrier need not be a vertical movement. As shown, the movement will be oblique due to the obliquity of the lever 112 and the pin and slot connection between the lever and the carrier. The lever 112 is now moved back (to the full line position, Fig. 4) by application of fluid pressure to the inner end of the cylinder. This gives movement to the carrier by which the plates or other articles on the carrier are advanced toward the rearend of the furnace. A plate near the rear end of the furnace may be carried out above the rear stock rack 37. The carrier is then lowered into the hearth channels depositing the plates on the hearth and stock rack, as the case may be. When an article is to be introduced into the furnace or discharged therefrom, the appropriate door 16 is raised by operation of operating cylinder 35.

The trussed construction of the trans verse members and the arrangements for water cooling these members effectually prevent any sagging or bending of the same due to the heat to which said members are necessarily exposed. By' preventing dis tortion of the transverse supporting members one cause of bending of the carrier bars is eliminated since the carrier naturally conforms itself tothe members on which it is sup rted. The bending of the carrier bars is urther checkedby the provision of the intermediate transverse member 57 and by the fact that it is water cooled. Water enters the forward header 47. through hose 49 and is properly distributed to the ipes 44 by the stepped down diameters o the header sections. The flow of water tothe pipes may be further re lated by a proper setting of valves 46. be water outflows through the water outlets 54 at the rear end of the carrier, the pipes being kept full of water because these outlets open from the upper parts of the pipes. B these arrangements the life of the parts 0 the mechanism for conveying the articles through the furnace is prolonged, the power required for movement of said parts is lessened, and the I wish to be understood as claiming all modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber havin a hearth formed with longitudinal channe s and a transverse channel, a carrier comprising members extending through said channels and be 0nd the heating chamber at opposite en s, transverse members atopposite ends of the heating chamber and a transverse member in said transverse channel on which the carrier 'members are slidably supported, and means for simultaneously raising and low-. ering said transverse members. i

2. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber havin a hearth formed with longitudinal channels and a transverse channel, a carrier comprising members extending through said channels and beyondthe heating chamber at opposite ends, transverse members at opposite ends of the heating chamber and a transverse member in said transverse channel on which the carrier members are slidably supported, and means suspended from the top of the furnace for simultaneously raising and lowering said transverse members.

3. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber having a hearth formed with longitudinal channels and a transverse channel, a carrier comprising members extending through said channels and beyond the heating chamber at opposite ends, transverse members at opposite ends of the heating chamber and a transverse member in said transverse channel on which the carrier Ill members are slidably supported, transverse rock shafts on the top of the furnace provided with arms, connections from said arms to said transverse members, levers on said rock shafts, links connecting said levers, and means for imparting oscillatory movements to the rock shafts.

4. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber having a hearth formed with longitudinal channels and a transverse channel, a carrier comprising members extending through said channels and beyond the heating chamber at opposite ends, transverse members at opposite ends of the heating chamber and a transverse member in said transverse channel on which the carrier members are slidably supported, transverse rock shafts on the top of the furnace provided with arms, connections from said arms to said transverse members, levers on said rock shafts, links connecting said levers. rollers on the ends of said transverse members, and vertical guides between which said rollers operate.

5. In a furnace, the-combination of a heating chamber, a carrier extending through said heating chamber and projecting out of the same at opposite ends, said carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending members, a stock rack outside of the furnace at each end comprising longitudinally extending spaced supporting members in staggered arrangement with respect to the longitudinal members of the carrier, and means for raising and lowering the carrier and for imparting longitudinal movements to the same in opposite directions whereby articles placed on one of said stock racks may be picked up, carried through the furnace by step by step movements and discharged from the furnace on the other of said stock racks. 4

6. In a furnace structure having a hearth formed with longitudinal channels and a transverse channel, the side walls of the furnace being formed with openings in line with said transverse channel, a carrier comprising members extending through said longitudinal channels and projecting beyond the ends of the furnace, transverse members outside of the furnace at opposite ends thereof, and a transverse member in said transverse channel and projecting through said openings in the furnace wall for supporting said carrier, guides for the ends of said transverse members, means for raising and lowering said transverse members, and means for imparting longitudinal movements in opposite directions to said carrier.

7 In a furnace structure having a hearth formed with longitudinal channels and a transverse channel, the side walls of the furnace being formed with openings in line with said transverse channel, a carrier comreoaoie prising members extending through said ongitudinal channels and projecting beyond the ends of the furnace, transverse members outside of the furnace at opposite ends thereoffand a transverse member in said transverse channel and projecting through said openings in the furnace Wall for supporting said carrier, guides for the ends of said transverse members suspended from the top of the furnace, means for raising and lowering said transverse members, and means for imparting longitudinal movements in opposite directions to said carrier.

8. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heatin chamber, and mechanism for raising an lowering said carrier comprising a hollow transverse member on which the longitudinal members of the carrier are slidably supported and which is provided with means for circulation therethrough of a cooling medium.

9. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heating chamber, mechanism for raising and lowering said carrier comprising a transverse member on which the longitudinal members 95 of the carrier are slidably supported, rollers on the ends of said transverse member, and vertical guides engaged by said rollers.

10. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudi- I nal members extending through the heating chamber, mechanism for raising and lowering said carrier comprising a tubular member, rollers on said member for supporting the longitudinal members of the carrier, and 105 spacers for maintaining proper relation between said rollers.

11. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heating 110 chamber, mechanism for raising and lower ing said carrier comprising a tubular, trans- 'versely arranged member provided with rollers for the longitudinal members of the carrier, and upright pipes connected to the ends of the tubular member provided with an inlet and an outlet for a cooling medium.

12. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heating chamber, mechanism for raising and lowering said carrier comprising a tubular, transversely arranged member provided with rollers for the longitudinal members of the carrier, upright pipes connected to the ends of the tubular member provided with an inletand outlet for a cooling medium, rollers on the extremities of the transverse member, vertical guides between which said rollers operate, and rollers on said guides adapted to be engaged by said upright pipes.

13. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heating chamber, mechanism for raising and lowering said carrier comprising a hollow transverse member provided with means for circulation therethrough of a cooling medium and with rollers for supporting the longitudinal members of the carrier, rollers on the extremities of said transverse member, vertical guides between which said rollers operate, upright members on the ends of said transverse member, and guide rollers on said vertical guides for engagement with said upright members.

14:. In a furnace, the combination of a Leating chamber, a carrier having longitudinal members extending through the heating chamber, mechanism for raising and lowering said carrier comprising a hollow transverse member on which the longitudinal members of the carrier are slidably supported and which is provided with means for circulation therethrough of a cooling medium, a transverse member provided with rollers for supporting the longitudinal members of the carrier, rollers on the extremities of said transverse member, vertical guides between which said rollers operate, upright members on the ends of said transverse member, guide rollers on said vertical guides for engagement with said upright members, and a bent reinforcing member on the under side of said transverse member and connected with and strutted thereto so as to form a trussed structure, therewith.

15. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber, a carrier comprising longitudinal members extending through said chamber, a }plurality of rock shafts arranged above t e furnace, structures for suspending the carrier from said rock shafts comprising, in each case, a tubular member, rollers spaced on said members for supporting the longitudinal members of the carrier, upright pipes at the ends 'of said tubular member provided with water inlet and outlet, a trussed reinforcement on-the under side of said tubular member, rollers on the extremity of said tubular member, vertical guides between which said rollers operate, and rollers on said guides adapted to be engaged by said upright pipes.

16. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a' carrier consisting of a plurality of pipes, a header at one end of the carrier with which said pipes are connected by downwardly extending pipe sections, said header consisting of a middle section of maximum diameter and on each side pipe sections of progressively smaller diameter, a cooling fluid connection with the middle section of the header for admission of cooling fluid to said header, and separate outlet connections with each pipe at the other end of the carrier.

17. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier consisting of a plurality of pipes, a header at one end of the carrier with which said pipes are connected by downwardly extending pipe sections, said header consisting of a middle section of maximum diameter and on each side pipe sections of progressively smaller diameter, a cooling fluid connection with the middle section of the header for admission of cooling fluid to said header, separate outlet connections with each pipe at the other end of the carrier, and means for controlling the inflow of cooling fluid to the carrier pipes separately.

18. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinal pipes, a header connecting said pipes, and valves to separately control the flow of cooling fluid as between said header and pipes.

19. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier comprising, a plurality of longitudinal pipes, an inlet header, valves to-control the flow of cooling fluid fromthe header to the pipes and separate outlets at the other ends of the pipes.

20. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinal pipes, an inlet header, valves to control the flow of cooling fluid from the header to the pipes. and separate outlets at the other ends of the pipes-arranged to take cooling fluid from thetop'part of the pipes.

21. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinal pipes, and rings on said pipes at spaced intervals.

22. In a furnace, the combination of a heating chamber and a carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinal pipes, rings loosely arranged on said pipes at spaced intervals, and spacing sleeves on the pipes to keep the rings in proper position.

GEORGE P. WHITE, 

